Pep Canyadell from Lleida has been proclaimed European pickleball runner-up, being part of the Spanish team in the competition held in Southampton (England) where the host country won. Pickleball, which the Spanish Tennis Federation has included in its structure, is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, paddle tennis, badminton and table tennis, in which two or four players hit a ball over a net, looking to score points and win sets.
The runner-up of the Spanish team was the result of the number of medals that each country obtained in a championship that brought together 24 national teams and 250 athletes. Thus, the state representatives won five medals (two gold, one silver and two bronze), counting the results of the two categories that competed, those over 18 years of age and those over 50.
Pep Canyadell, who participated in the group stage, together with his other two teammates Jonathan Medina and Marcello Paiva, won the gold medal in men’s doubles +18, and the silver medal in mixed doubles together with Paula Rieves and Jonathan Medina.
By country, the podium was occupied in this order by England, Spain and Italy.
Canyadell learned about this new sport made in the USA when he studied Finance at Wingate University (North Carolina) and later did a master’s degree in Data Analysis at Grand Valley State University (Michigan). He started in tennis, first at CT Urgell and then at CT Lleida.
Currently, he has already managed to become Spanish champion in mixed doubles and state runner-up in men’s doubles.
